The Super Fun New Fitness Trend

Posted on May 2, 2013 by admin

A few sets on the leg curl machine might boost your heart rate, but will you enjoy them? Probably not.

Luckily for strength-training haters, an increasing number of gyms are adding gear for a new type of workout—called functional or playground fitness—that’s designed to be more effective than your typical routine—and way more fun.

Because machines at the gym isolate individual body parts, they’re not the ideal training for real-life situations—like sprinting to a bus with a heavy bag of groceries. Worse yet: “People are bored to death by isolated movements,” says Jon Hinds, founder of Monkey Bar Gymnasiums. “It’s become a chore.”

Functional fitness, on the other hand, involves more intuitive, dynamic movements like running, jumping, crawling, and climbing. With this new kind of workout, fitness isn’t the main goal, but the byproduct of the activity, says David Jack, a performance coach and the director of Teamworks Fitness. The result: a more athletic body that won’t leave you feeling surprisingly weak when it comes time to push a shopping cart or lift a heavy box.

While you can use your environment to get a functional workout anywhere (park benches are awesome for jumping over or climbing under, for example), special “playground” equipment is showing up at more and more gyms.

No clue how to use them? Just try one of the new exercises in the below slideshow. Do whichever combination of moves you prefer for 10 minutes twice a week, and focus on the freedom of movement, suggests Jack.

8 Super-Effective Functional Fitness Exercises

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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Eggs May Increase Heart Disease Risk

Posted on May 2, 2013 by admin

If you think you’re doing yourself a favor by ordering an omelet at brunch, think again. Eating an excessive amount of eggs may increase the risk of heart disease and stroke—even for people without traditional risk factors—according to a new study from the New England Journal of Medicine. Even more surprising: the reason why eggs may be dangerous. It was previously thought that the cholesterol in eggs promoted heart disease, but this research shows that there may be other factors at play.

Turns out, a metabolite found in egg yolks called lecithin may be to blame. When lecithin is digested, it breaks down into its different components, including the chemical choline. When intestinal bacteria metabolizes choline, it releases a substance that the liver then converts into a compound called trimethylamine N-oxide (aka TMAO), explains lead study researcher Stanley Hazen, MD, PhD, chairman of the department of cellular and molecular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute. TMAO accelerates the rate at which plaque and cholesterol collect in the arteries, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke.

These findings come just two weeks after the same group of researchers reported a link between carnitine (found in beef and some energy drinks) and heart attack risk. “Both studies show a potential new way for identifying patients at risk for heart disease,” says Hazen.

So should you ditch eggs altogether? Not necessarily. More studies are needed to confirm the results. In the meantime, moderation is key, says Hazen. He suggests cutting back on fatty, cholesterol-laden foods that contain chemicals that convert to TMAO. “Forego whole eggs,” he suggests. “Since the yolk is the only source of choline in an egg, egg whites are the safest bet—and are also an excellent source of low-fat protein.”

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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The Safest Way to Fire Up the Grill

Posted on May 1, 2013 by admin

Summer’s almost here—and that means grilling season is, too. But with all of that deliciousness comes a safety warning: Grilling meat on unready charcoal may increase the risk of contaminating it with cancer-causing chemicals, according to a recent study published in the journal Food Chemistry.

Researchers from the University of Gaziantep in Turkey and the University of York in the United Kingdom extracted certain carcinogenic chemicals, called nitrosamines, from samples of grilled lamb and vegetables. The highest levels of nitrosamines were found when the meat was cooked on charcoals that weren’t fully heated up and ready to go. Grilling the meat for a long time and grilling extra-fatty meat was also linked with an increase in nitrosamine levels.

That’s not the only scary part of grilling, either: Compounds called heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) form when meat is exposed to high heat or flames, says Alice Bender, MS, RDN, nutrition communications manager at the American Institute for Cancer Research, who was not involved in the study. Both of these chemicals can cause damage to DNA in ways that may promote cancer.

That doesn’t mean you just have to leave your grill in storage, though. With some smart tweaks to your cooking method, you can keep yourself considerably safer:

Avoid flare-ups and charring
Since high heat and flames cause those HCAs and PAHs to form, do what you can to steer clear of them: Cut off visible fat before you throw your meat on the grill, and once the coals are hot, move them to the side of the grill but leave your meat in the center. “That way the heat will still be there,” says Bender, “but even if something does drip down, it won’t drip right onto the coals.” Flip your meat often, too, to avoid burning it, and keep it six inches away from the heat source, says Stacy Kennedy, MPH, RD, a senior nutritionist specializing in oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Another way to avoid charring: Cover your grill (or your meat) with aluminum foil, which eliminates direct contact with the flame.

Use marinade
It doesn’t just boost the yum factor. “Marinating your meat for at least 30 minutes can reduce the numbers of those compounds—of HCAs—that are formed on the meat,” says Bender. Studies have shown rosemary to be particularly effective. (Try this recipe for grilled chicken with a rosemary and balsamic vinegar marinade.) Lemon and vinegar marinades work well, too, says Kennedy. But don’t lay it on too thick: “Be careful of thicker, sugary marinades,” she says, “because they tend to burn more easily and promote charring.”

Pre-cook your meat
Start cooking it in your oven, on the stovetop, or even in the microwave before it hits the grill, suggests Bender. That way you’ll still get that delicious grilled flavor, but the meat will be exposed to potentially dangerous conditions for less time. (Just make sure you’re moving the meat directly from the oven or microwave to the grill—you don’t want it to sit around growing bacteria!)

Get creative about what you grill
Leaner meat—like chicken or fish—means less fat leaking. And smaller pieces—like you’d put on kebabs—reduce grill time, says Kennedy. Even better: Try grilling veggies and fruit. Since they’re animal protein-free, they don’t pose that risk of forming HCAs and PAHs that meats do. And how amazing do grilled pineapples sound?

Speaking of which… Are you ready to get grilling—safely? Then try these perfect-for-summer recipes:

Walk-the-Plank Salmon with Grilled Pineapple and Asparagus

Photo: Mitch Mandel

Grilled Stuffed Eggplant

Photo: Mitch Mandel

Apricot Shrimp Skewers

Photo: Romulo Yanes

Heirloom Tomato and Eggplant Stacks

Photo: Craig Cutler

Grilled Romaine with Oranges, Blue Cheese, and Orange Vinaigrette

Photo: Zach DeSart

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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Get This: Eating More Nuts Won’t Make You Fat

Posted on May 1, 2013 by admin

Check out the list of links that should be on your radar today:

Adding nuts to your diet shouldn’t make you gain weight, according to a new study. Just don’t go completely nuts. [Reuters]

One small step for Marissa Mayer, one giant step for woman-kind: The Yahoo CEO recently doubled paid maternity leave and expanded paternity leave at her company. [Jezebel]

Prepare your credit cards: Downton Abbey is getting a fashion and home goods line. [The Cut]

Second-hand smoke may be more dangerous for women than it is for men. [TIME]

If you’re taking gingko biloba for your health, stop this second. A scary new animal study suggests that it may actually cause cancer. [NYT]

Less than 40 percent of people diagnosed with depression actually meet the clinical criteria for it. [Medical Daily]

Employees at a New York real estate office can get a 15 percent pay bump if they ink themselves with the company logo. That’s some serious employee loyalty there. [CBS New York]

A blogger for a sports radio station wrote that a (totally gorgeous) NBA cheerleader might be “too chunky” to cheer. If you ask us, the writer is too insensitive to blog. [Houston Chronicle]

Jonah Falcon, the man known for having the biggest penis in the world, released an iTunes single called “It’s Too Big.” Please don’t encourage him by buying it. [Huffington Post]

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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“Should I Worry About Driving When I’m Tired?”

Posted on May 1, 2013 by admin

Every week, the Scoop examines alarming new claims to help you make sense of the latest health research.

You obviously know not to get behind the wheel when you’re intoxicated—but what about when you’re exhausted? Fatigue was the cause of 20 percent of all documented crashes in a recent study from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute Center for Vulnerable Road User Safety.

Researchers recruited 100 drivers who commute into or out of the Northern Virginia/Washington D.C. area and equipped their cars with unobtrusive sensors and video cameras to study naturalistic driving behavior. They also collected 20,000 randomly selected 6-second video segments, which let them notice signs of sleepiness—including closed eyes, head bobbing, and even drivers falling asleep at the wheel.

The result: In 20 percent of all car crashes and 16 percent of all near crashes documented in the study, the driver showed signs of fatigue. While that number is definitely shocking, this was a relatively small study—so it’s unclear whether the stats hold up for the entire country. The latest data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) shows that only 2.5 percent of fatal crashes in 2010 were the result of drowsy driving, but that doesn’t tell the whole story, either, since it doesn’t account for fender benders or serious but non-fatal accidents. What we do know is that there were 750 fatal crashes due to drowsy driving in 2010 alone, and the recent study indicates that number of less-severe accidents may be even higher.

Unfortunately, there is no legal limit when it comes to sluggish driving, so you’ll have to monitor yourself for signs of extreme drowsiness. If you’re sleep deprived—whether it’s from not enough sleep or poor-quality sleep—you shouldn’t get behind the wheel, says sleep expert Michael Breus, MD. So how can you tell the difference between your usual morning grogginess and being too drowsy to drive? If you fell asleep in less than five minutes the night before, it’s a sure sign you’re deprived, says Breus. Other signs include having trouble focusing or misplacing objects like your phone or keys. If you want a quick litmus test, Breus suggests lying down and closing your eyes for 30 seconds before getting behind the wheel. If you feel like you could truly fall asleep and you have trouble getting up, you shouldn’t be driving.

If you’re already in the car, watch for warning signs like incessant yawning, frequent blinking, trouble keeping your eyes open and focused, and not being able to remember driving the last few miles, says Jose Ucles, from the Office of Communications and Consumer Information at the NHTSA. If you notice any of these cues or happen to hit the rumble strips on the side of the road, it’s definitely time to get off the road. “The results are staggering,” says Breus. “If you’re going 60 miles per hour and close your eyes, it takes just three seconds to go off the road. You really don’t have a lot of time to react.”

It’s also important to remember that if you’ve taken any sleep aids in the last 24 hours, they may still be in your system. And avoid all alcohol if you’re already groggy. Just one glass of wine can multiply the effects of sleep deprivation—even though you may be under the legal alcohol limit, says Breus.

So what if you are driving when you realize you shouldn’t be? The NHTSA suggests pulling over, drinking two cups of coffee, then taking a 15-20 minute nap so you get a little sleep before the caffeine takes effect. That said, sleeping in a parking lot or on the side of the road isn’t exactly the safest thing. If you can’t stop at a hotel, leave your car in a nearby parking lot and call a cab or take public transportation home. Worst-case scenario, stopping to grab two cups of coffee, then waiting 15-20 minutes for it to take effect before driving to the closest place where you can catch some Zzzz’s is your next best option.

The verdict: Drowsy driving may not be as dangerous as drunk driving, but it accounted for 750 fatal crashes in 2010. And without any true guidelines, it’s crucial to monitor yourself to make sure you’re alert enough to drive. If you’re unsure, opt to have someone else take the wheel.

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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One in Three Women Experience Breast Pain During Exercise

Posted on May 1, 2013 by admin

If your breasts could talk, they’d probably tell you that they’re not thrilled when they see you lacing up your running shoes. In fact, breast pain is an issue for almost one in three marathon runners, according to a new study published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. And the bigger your cup size, the more likely you are to be plagued with boob pain.

Researchers surveyed 1,285 female runners at the 2012 London Marathon Registration. The survey asked women about their exercise habits and workout intensity, as well as their medical history and how often they experienced breast pain. They found that 32 percent of women reported breast pain, but that number was strongly linked to the size of a woman’s bust. Pain was a problem for one in four women with A cups, but it was an issue for half of all women with a cup size of F or larger.

The big bummer: Working out is often to blame. Half of the women with breast pain said it was brought on by moderate exercise, and 64 percent said their girls hurt during vigorous exercise. Since nine out of 10 runners reported wearing sports bras while training, it’s not a total lack of support that’s the problem. According to experts, the real issue is that women aren’t getting the right support.

“Just because women are wearing sports bras doesn’t mean they’re wearing an appropriately fitting, supportive sports bra,” says lead study author Nicola Brown, PhD, lecturer in health and exercise at St. Mary’s University College in Twickenham, London.

To keep your breasts happy and healthy, try these expert-approved tips:

Get proper support all day—not just at the gym
While you don’t need to don a sports bra to run errands, you should still make sure your everyday bras give you the appropriate amount of support. “A lot of women probably don’t realize how active they are during their normal daily routine,” says study coauthor Joanna Scurr, PhD, head of the Research Group in Breast Health at the University of Portsmouth in London. “All types of activity can cause considerable breast movement, and ultimately our research has shown it’s the movement of the breast that can lead to pain.” Head to a department store or lingerie shop and meet with a bra-fitting specialist to find the right style and size for your bust.

Make sure your bra meets these expert standards
Pay attention to these five crucial bra-fitting points from the Research Group in Breast Health. They apply to both your sports bras and your everyday options:
• Band: It should be snug enough so it doesn’t slide around when you move but not so tight that it digs in or feels uncomfortable.
• Cup: If it has individual cups, your breasts should be contained in them, not spilling out in any direction. If the cups are puckering, you may need to go down a cup size.
• Underwire: If it has underwire, it should follow the natural crease of the breast rather than resting on it or digging in. If the underwire is resting farther down on your ribcage (where you’re a little narrower) the band might be too small.
• Front: The lower edge of your bra between the cups should lay flat against the body and not gape away from your chest. If the front is not laying flat, you may need to go up a cup size.
• Straps: They should provide support without digging into the skin. Your main support should come from a snug band, not super-tight straps.

Take your bra for a test drive
Once you’ve found a sports bra that seems to keep everything in place, make sure to test the support before you buy it. You could run laps around the store—or you could try this much subtler trick from Scurr: Do a few star jumps in the dressing room. Start with your feet together and your body squatted down with your hands on the floor. Then jump up while spreading you arms and legs out, like a star. This causes the same breast movement that occurs during running, says Scurr, so it’s an accurate way to gauge the fit. Another tip: Stretch your arms above your head and from side to side. “Your band should stay where it is when you put your arms up,” says Scurr.

Watch what you eat and drink
Some research has shown that a high-fat diet or excessive caffeine intake may contribute to breast pain in some people, says Dixie Mills, MD, breast surgeon at Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates. So if you’re feeling particularly sore, try cutting back on these to see if it makes a difference. Some experts also advise an anti-inflammatory diet—think tons of fresh fruits and veggies and limiting processed foods—to minimize pain from inflammation, says Mills. The bottom line: A healthier diet may help buffer against the breast tenderness, so eat clean if you’re experiencing soreness. And if you know you’re prone to pain around your period, take an over-the-counter pain reliever before a big workout, says Mills.

Keep exercising
It may sound counterintuitive since workouts can be the cause of discomfort, but staying fit can protect against breast pain in the long run. The study authors are currently working on two new studies that show an association between higher activity levels and lower levels of breast pain. So amp up your fitness routine to reap the benefits—just make sure you’re wearing a super-supportive bra first.

Need a few options? Check out our top picks for your girls from the Women’s Health 2013 Fitness Awards:

Moving Comfort Juno Bra, $ 56, movingcomfort.com

This super-supportive pick goes up to size 40DD and is great for high impact exercise. Plus, there’s a hook-and-clasp closure in the back to ensure a perfect fit.

CW-X VersatX Supprot Bra, $ 65, paragonsports.com
This sports bra packs a hidden punch with interior webbing within each cup to cut down on bounce. And with no underwire or compression, it’s a comfy yet supportive fit.

Champion Seamless Dazzle Sports Bra, $ 36, champion.com
The contoured cups in this no-fuss pick give the perfect amount of support for lower-impact exercise—like jogging.

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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Get This: Colleges Aren’t Taking Assault Seriously

Posted on April 30, 2013 by admin

Check out the list of links that should be on your radar today:

Activists are pushing colleges and universities to take a stricter stance against sexual assault. Fingers crossed that the schools listen. [USA Today]

H&M’s new ads feature plus-size swimsuit models—without making a big deal about the fact that they’re plus-size (aka, normal-size). [Jezebel]

The exciting updates about season four of Arrested Development just keep coming in. The latest: Apparently John Krasinski is set to do a cameo. [Vulture]

All that caffeine being added to your gum and snacks lately? The FDA is worried that it might be dangerous. [AP]

Women aren’t the only one who body-shame themselves. Men can also have a negative body image—and it makes them less optimistic about finding a girl. [Huffington Post]

Reports of ground turkey infected with superbugs have cropped up in 21 states. Find out how to protect yourself from food contamination. [Reuters]

In news you’ll want to hide from your boyfriends and husbands, a new company called Wool & Prince has created a men’s dress shirt designed to be worn for 90 days straight without wrinkling or smelling bad. [The Frisky]

Ray J’s new music video for his song “I Hit It First” (ugh) features a woman who looks eerily similar to Kim Kardashian. What a “coincidence.” [Huffington Post]

Japanese reachers say an antibiotic may help men stay faithful. Or, you know, they could just choose not to cheat. [Medical Daily]

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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Breaking: The FDA Approves OTC Plan B

Posted on April 30, 2013 by admin

It’s official: In response to a court-ordered mandate, the FDA has given drugstores the green light to start selling emergency contraception over the counter to women 15 and older. The upshot? You’ll now be able to get Plan B even if a pharmacy’s not open when you need it—like, say, at 2 AM, right when the accident happens.

For more information on what these changes mean, read Women’s Health’s original report on the judicial ruling to take emergency contraceptive out from being the pharmacy counter.

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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Why You Should Read Maya Angelou’s New Memoir

Posted on April 30, 2013 by admin

Every month, the Scoop hosts our 60-second book club, where we invite you to take a quick peek inside a buzzed-about new book and let us know what you think. This month’s pick: Mom & Me & Mom by Maya Angelou.

If you and your mom are more like oil and water than peanut butter and jelly, there is hope that you’ll be able to cultivate your bond—at least, if Maya Angelou’s history is any indication. In her new memoir, Mom & Me & Mom, Angelou shares how she went from refusing to call her mom “mother” to holding the woman’s hand as much as possible during the last months of her life.

Vivan Baxter, mother of the famed writer, left Angelou and her brother, Bailey, with their grandmother when the children were 3 and 5, respectively. The children wouldn’t see their mother again until 10 years later.

Angelou recounts being skeptical of Baxter when they first reunited, wondering to Bailey why their mother had abandoned them:

“My brother and I have a question we must ask you. You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”

She said, “I know that all I really have to do is stay black and die. So, what is your question?”

“Why did you send us away, and why didn’t you come back and get us?”

She said, “Sit down, children.”

Bailey held a chair for me and we both sat down.

“Your father and I began to dislike each other almost as soon as we got married. Then both of you were born and we had to think about what we would do with you. We tried for nearly a year but we realized there was nothing that could keep us together. His mother wrote to us and said to send the children to her. When we got her letter, we went out, and for the first time in a year, we had an evening without cursing each other out and slamming out of a restaurant.”

She started to smile. “I missed you but I knew you were in the best place for you. I would have been a terrible mother. I had no patience. Maya, when you were about two years old, you asked me for something. I was busy talking, so you hit my hand, and I slapped you off the porch without thinking. It didn’t mean I didn’t love you; it just meant I wasn’t ready to be a mother. I’m explaining to you, not apologizing. We would have all been sorry had I kept you.”

Baxter’s total honesty—and unwavering loyalty—are a big part of the reason that Angelou soon “came to adore” her mother.

The book also explains how Angelou went from growing up in racist, impoverished conditions to becoming such a prolific writer. It’s perfect for some inspirational weekend reading—or a last-minute Mother’s Day gift.

Have you read the book? Are you going through a rough patch with your mom? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

photo: courtesy of Random House

thumbnail photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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Got Back Pain? Check Your Posture

Posted on April 30, 2013 by admin

Your job shouldn’t be a pain in the neck—at least not literally. Yet two out of three office workers have felt physical pain in the last six months, according to a new survey released by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).

The survey compiled responses from about 1,000 office workers ages 18 and older across the U.S. The results also showed that in the past 30 days, 62 percent of respondents had felt pain in their lower backs, 53 percent in their necks, 38 percent in their shoulders, 33 percent in their wrists, and 31 percent in their upper backs.

So what’s causing all of that discomfort? Nearly a quarter of the surveyed workers think their physical pain is just a regular part of working an office job. People do spend a whole lot of time slouching over a keyboard, causing muscle fatigue from postural stress, says Lisa DeStefano, a doctor of osteopathic medicine and a spokesperson for the AOA. Here’s the thing, though: You job shouldn’t be causing you physical pain.

If you’re on your bum for a large portion of the workday, it’s important to give your body a break by standing up, says DeStefano. When you do, you’ll work different muscles and get your blood moving up and out of your lower extremities. DeStefano suggests pausing to stretch (or chat with a coworker) every 30 minutes to an hour.

And when you are sitting, make sure to park yourself at your desk the proper way:

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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Athens Java Hut

Serving Jittery Joe's Coffee, Cecilia Villaveces, Cakes and Italian Gelato

Author Archives: admin

The Super Fun New Fitness Trend

Eggs May Increase Heart Disease Risk

The Safest Way to Fire Up the Grill

Get This: Eating More Nuts Won’t Make You Fat

“Should I Worry About Driving When I’m Tired?”

One in Three Women Experience Breast Pain During Exercise

Get This: Colleges Aren’t Taking Assault Seriously

Breaking: The FDA Approves OTC Plan B

Why You Should Read Maya Angelou’s New Memoir

Got Back Pain? Check Your Posture